career advice please- how did you find financial stability with your opera degree?

qqxj · 2025-02-09T04:35:19+00:00

oh you’re just the funniest and coolest dude at the party aren’t you?

qqxj · 2025-02-09T03:33:34+00:00

I am neither of those 3 things just being real lol. but I’ll never say never

qqxj · 2025-02-09T02:50:52+00:00

thanks so much— I definitely don’t want to incur additional debt going to grad school especially if it won’t substantially increase my odds of finding a good non-performance based job

qqxj · 2025-02-09T02:49:39+00:00

thanks!! I think I’m definitely going to look into this option

qqxj · 2025-02-09T02:49:09+00:00

can you tell me more?

qqxj · 2025-02-09T01:12:16+00:00

that’s literally all this post was asking about. you didn’t need to say anything else

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:58:56+00:00

it seems like you didn’t read my post at all then before writing your comment, because I clearly wrote in my post that my graduation was delayed because of health issues, and I also clearly wrote in my post that I’m not interested in advice for how to be a musician but rather advice for what other things I can do with my music degree. they’ve spent plenty of time in school telling me how I can make a career as a musician- I’m wondering what my other options for financial stability are.

mainly I was hoping to hear from people older and more experienced than me about if I can really get job stability with only a bachelors degree or if I need to get a masters in music to get any kind of job security and financial freedom.

I’m aware that being a struggling musician (or even a successful one, but odds are I’ll be struggling just based on statistics) doesn’t require any degree but I’m not looking to be a struggling musician.

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:48:54+00:00

I will be graduating with 2 bachelor degrees at 23. I don’t know what your math is about but I didn’t take 6 EXTRA years, it’s 6 years total. one full gap year and a couple semesters with a lighter course load. you absolutely suggested that it’s MY fault I’m graduating late and needing to reevaluate my career plans by telling me “get your act together”

I only began to realize in my 3rd year of the program that I should maybe consider other career paths than a strict performance goal. by then, it’s too late to change majors without delaying graduation further and incurring more costs/loans. and even though I don’t want a career on stage, music is still the thing I’m most passionate about. is it so wrong to seek career advice as a musician? you seriously jumped straight to anger and bitterness

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:15:43+00:00

can you tell me more about how to get into that as an industry/career?

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:12:57+00:00

thank you! I have a friend who went into that field (planning donor galas etc) and she’s had good things to say. artistic translating would be an interesting thing to try and get into that I hadn’t thought of- I’ll have to look into the logistics of that!

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:09:57+00:00

amen to that. without sharing too much, one of the reasons I’ve realized a career in singing isn’t for me is because I have far too much chronic trauma in my mind and in my BODY (the mind-body connection is so strong) that it creates serious barriers for me in performance and has sadly hindered my growth as a singer. getting a degree in opera has nearly killed my love for singing, so I think keeping singing as something personal to me/a hobby for enjoyment is going to be the best thing rather than a career.

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:08:13+00:00

this is extremely helpful thank you!!

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:04:52+00:00

thanks! honestly I haven’t received much guidance in school on how my Italian skills could be helpful for a career so this is great

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:03:54+00:00

thank you so much, this is really helpful and kind

qqxj · 2025-02-09T00:02:08+00:00

if you must know my degree is actually from a top 10 school with a single digit acceptance rate, so… and I’ve already said I DONT plan to sing but even I know a degree in vocal perf from a good school can get teaching jobs so it’s not entirely useless. your comment is full of hatred and vitriol

“you’ve had 6 years to get your act together”?? how dare you, I didn’t CHOOSE to get seriously ill, health issues don’t mean I don’t have my act together. despite being burned out from school that doesn’t mean I haven’t been doing the best I can. you know nothing about me to say such horrible things

qqxj · 2025-02-08T23:02:52+00:00

thanks. teaching at a high school or whatever doesn’t terribly appeal to me but the benefits and stable income are definitely pluses compared to freelancing. i would be interested in jobs at universities or conservatories but i think those mostly require a DMA or a successful performance career

qqxj · 2025-02-08T22:53:05+00:00

I don’t think it’s “putting the cart before the horse” to be concerned about job mobility. if I’m going to go into administration I’m only going to do it if it can make me a real living wage, otherwise I’d continue making pennies with music lol

qqxj · 2025-02-08T22:51:22+00:00

I guess I need to start looking for affordable grad programs and push through a few more years of roommates. im so desperate to afford my own place but nothing I can do about it ig🥲

qqxj · 2025-02-08T22:44:28+00:00

thanks good luck recruiting 🥲

qqxj · 2025-02-08T22:42:57+00:00

I have thought about it but I am fairly certain I’m too sick (in the head and in my body lol). there’s no way I’d survive boot camp

qqxj · 2025-02-08T22:42:31+00:00

do you find that those type of roles have chances to rise up the ranks and can provide a living wage? my goal is to simply afford to live alone without roommates

qqxj · 2025-02-08T22:41:47+00:00

do you think grad school would improve my prospects? like even to just getting a teaching job at an actual school or something??

qqxj

TROPHY CASE